Month: December 2013

Kathmandu, December 23, 2013 – Thousands of Nepalese stray puppies have been sold as ‘Himalayan breeds’ in India in the past decade. This was found when Jane Goodall Institute and Animal Nepal exposed the illegal trafficking of Nepalese dogs to India by rescuing 30 puppies. The puppies were destined for Sonepur Mela, Asia’s largest animal fair, held annually in Bihar.

Last week 30 puppies were rescued from Kalanki bus station before being smuggled on top of a night bus to India. It is estimated that in the past decade thousands of mixed breed dogs have been sold as pure breeds across the border. Traders collect stray puppies from the streets of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts and promote them as special Himalayan breeds in India. Exporting any life animal without official documents is illegal under Nepalese law.

The puppies are cramped in mesh wire cages and transported on top of public buses from Kathmandu to Sonepur in Bihar via Malangala in Siraha. According to Managing Veterinarian Dr Surendra Basyal the condition of the puppies is raises many concerns. “Most puppies are not properly weaned. Some are as young as three weeks. They can hardly survive without their mother. I cannot imagine that any of them would have survived the long journey to Sonepur.”

Kathmandu, November 10, 2013 – The President of Nepal, the Honourable Ram Baran Yadav, in a letter to the Department of Industries, tells brick factories to treat equines used for carrying bricks humanely. He did so in response to a letter from two lecturers at Coker College, South Carolina, USA.

The lecturers, Prof. Jean Grosser and Alireza Azizi of Coker College, wrote to the President in response to Animal Nepal’s campaign against animal abuse taking place at New Bhairab brick factory. A petition, signed by close to 150,000 people, showed the image of a mule dying from deep trauma saddle wounds exposing the equine’s spine and vertebrae.

In response to the letter the President instructed the Department of Industries to inform all brick factories to stop animal abuse taking place in the kilns.

The letter by the Department to the Cottage and Small Industries Office and Federation of Brick Industries says: “We hereby inform all brick factories not to show inhumane behaviour to animals by using sick and injured equines and overloading them.”

Animal Nepal, which has lobbied for better conditions for ‘brick donkeys’ since 2008, feels greatly encouraged by the President’s statement.